Surgical Technologist

Surgical Technologist

Program
Description

The program at Baltimore City Community College follows the Core Curriculum for the Surgical Technologist, developed by
the Association of
Surgical Technologists, Inc. Students who complete the program will earn a Associate of Applied Science degree in Surgical Technology and will be eligible to sit for
the certification exam given by the National
Board for Surgical Technologists and Surgical Assistants. The
program prepares students for successful
employment in an operating room, assisting the surgeon and other members of the
professional staff with patient care before, during, and after surgery.

Through
classroom study and clinical fieldwork in area hospitals, students learn
surgical asepsis and the preparation and use of instrumentation and equipment.
Students completing the program are eligible to take the certifying examination
given by the Association of Surgical Technologists. Prospective SGT students
should consult with the Admissions Office about the insurance, course sequence,
and grade standards that must be maintained. Students must be eligible for all
college level courses to be eligible for admission to the program. There is a
maximum enrollment of 16 for each entering cohort. A new cohort is accepted
every fall semester.

The mission of the Surgical Technology Program at
Baltimore City Community College is to provide students with comprehensive
learning experiences encompassing the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor
(skills), and affective (behavior), domains necessary to perform as competent
entry level Surgical Technologist while serving the needs of the
community.

The Surgical Technology Program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Technology and Assisting (ARC/STSA) and the CAAHEP's Board of Director.

Job Description

A Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) is a member of the surgical team who works with surgeons, anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists, registered nurses, and other surgical personnel in delivering patient care and assuming appropriate responsibilities before, during and after surgery. Duties include passing instruments to the surgeon and assisting during surgery.

Surgical Technologists are responsible for many important tasks assisting in the care of surgical patients, including:

Working with surgeons, nurses, and other operating room personnel

Understanding fundamentals steps and routine procedures in order to assist the surgeon

Helping to ensure surgical procedures are performed efficiently and effectively

Preparing operating rooms for surgery

Maintaining equipment, rooms, and supplies

And many other important responsibilities

Career Options and Occupation Outlook

Surgical technologists may gain employment in a number of different settings. Some of these include:

Hospital operating rooms

Ambulatory surgery centers

Organ procurement facilities

Labor and delivery

Veterinary clinics

Skills Needed

Individuals who want to enter the field of surgical technology need manual dexterity because they must handle instruments quickly. A surgical technologist must have excellent critical thinking skills to be able to anticipate the needs of the patient and the surgical team. They must also be alert, conscientious, orderly, and emotionally stable to handle the demands of surgeons. Surgical technologists need to have stamina and be able to work on their feet through out operations that may last several hours.Extensive knowledge of human anatomy is also essential.